Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies
| Author, year | Participants (n, M/F; Agea; Onset) |
Interventions | Dosage | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alshami, A.M. 2021 [24] |
IG (n = 20; M/F: 16/4) Age: 33 ± 6 years Onset: 13 ± 10 months CG (n = 20; M/F: 15/5) Age:37 ± 7 years Onset: 25 ± 29 months |
IG: STM + postural correctional exercises + tape CG: postural correctional exercises + tape |
six sessions over 2 to 3 weeks | Pain Intensity (NRS + PPT); NDI; cervical ROM; Scapular ROM |
| Im, B., et al. 2016 [32] |
IG (n = 8; M/F: 5/3) Age: 35.5 ± 8.8 years CG (n = 7; M/F: 6/1) Age: 35.7 ± 9.8 months |
IG: SSE; CG: no intervention |
treatments 3 times/week for 4 weeks | Pain Intensity (VAS); NDI; Electro myographic activity of UT, LT and SA; CVA; WHOQOL-BREF |
| Javdaneh, N. 2021 [33] |
IG (n = 24; M/F: 14/10) Age: 34.25 ± 8.01 years Onset: 4.25 ± 1.85 years CG (n = 24; M/F: 13/11) Age: 32.58 ± 6.37 years Onset: 3.18 ± 1.54 years |
IG: neck exercise + SSE; CG: neck exercise |
40 to 60 min of training three times a week for 6 weeks | Pain Intensity (VAS); cervical ROM, CVA; SDRI |
| Özdemir, F., et al., 2021 [34] |
IG (n = 13; M/F: 6/7) Age: 39.6 ± 13.9 years Onset: 18.4 ± 9.6 months CG (n = 11; M/F: 6/5) Age:42.8 ± 13.8 years Onset: 17.1 ± 26.6 months |
IG: normal physical therapy + SSE; CG: normal physical therapy |
treatments 5 times/week for 3 weeks | Pain Intensity (VAS); NPQ |
| Shiravi, S. 2019 [25] |
IG (n = 44; M/F: 0/44) Age: 27.6 ± 2.06 years CG (n = 43; M/F: 0/43) Age: 25.11 ± 1.99 years |
IG: SSE; CG: no intervention |
Three 30-min sessions per week for 6 weeks | Pain Intensity (VAS); muscle strength and Electro myographic activity of UT, MT, LT and SA; Shoulder Proprioception |
| Shirzadi, Z. 2018 [35] |
IG (n = 23; M/F: 0/23) Age: 39.82 ± 10.12 years CG (n = 23; M/F: 0/23) Age: 39.13 ± 10.50 years |
IG: normal physical therapy + STM; CG: normal physical therapy |
treatments 5 times/week for 2 weeks | Pain Intensity (NRS); NDI; grip strength; Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire; NDI |
| Srikrajang, S. 2023 [21] |
IG (n = 14; M/F: 6/8) Age: 31.0 (20.8, 38.3) years Onset: 12.0 (6.0, 24.0) months CG (n = 14; M/F: 4/10) Age: 31.0 (25.8, 34.3) years Onset: 12.0 (6.0, 24.0) months |
IG: SCE CG: no intervention |
single treatment | Pain Intensity (NRS + PPT); cervical ROM |
| Yildiz, T.I. 2018 [36] |
IG (n = 12) Age: 27.8 ± 8 years CG (n = 13) Age:32.8 ± 7.4 years |
IG: neck exercise + SSE; CG: neck exercise |
treatments every day for 6 weeks | Pain Intensity (VAS); NDI; Scapular ROM |
M Male, F Female, IG Intervention group, CG Control group
SSE Scapular stabilization exercise, SCE Scapular correctional exercise, STM Scapulothoracic mobilization
PPT Pressure pain threshold, VAS Visual analogue scale, NRS Numeric rating scale
NDI Neck disability index, NPQ Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire
CVA Craniovertebral angle, ROM Range of motion
UT Upper trapezius, MT Middle trapezius, LT Low trapezius, SCM Sternocleidomastoid muscle, SA Serratus anterior
WHOQOL-BREF World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF